It is not always easy being a student. Setting aside money for rent, food, travel, social activities, the list goes on… a bottle of Glens Vodka – essentials, right? But when it is time to go makeup shopping, things get a bit pricey when it all adds up. You’ve got to admit, it is the WORST when all of your products decide to finish up – inconveniently – at the same time. Hitting the bottom of your foundation bottle telling yourself you must use every last drop and even performing a scissor murder on your squeezy tube of face primer – desperate times cause for desperate measures. However, here is a list of student budget friendly products to have in your makeup kit – pen and paper at the ready!
Primer
Collection: Primed & Ready Mattifying Pore Minimising Primer
This primer is designed to smooth, minimise pores and provide an anti-blemish formula to promote clearer and healthier looking skin – which we all love to have. Apply a small amount onto your face using your fingers, concentrating on the areas you have more visible pores.
Foundation
The Ordinary: Coverage Foundation
A lightweight foundation guaranteed to provide coverage with a super pigmented formula. Available in 10 different shades, ranging from fair to deep skin tones and suitable for all skin types – a foundation versatile for anyone’s makeup kit!
The Ordinary: Serum Foundation
If you are after something a bit more on the lighter side, The Ordinary’s Serum Foundation is the one to go for. At the same price of £6.00, you can achieve a healthy glow and a natural skin-like finish. This foundation is ideal for those summer months approaching – hats off to those who wear full coverage in hot weather!
Concealer
Revolution Beauty: Conceal and Define Concealer
Be sure to hide away those under-eye circles the morning after your night out with this concealer. Available in 50 shades and will provide a long-lasting, creaseless finish – you can’t go wrong! Using a damp beauty sponge or small buffing brush, apply the product underneath the eyes and anywhere you want to lift and brighten.
Powder
Collection: Primed & Ready Invisible Setting Powder
A fabulous powder to set your base and chuck in your bag to touch up in between lectures. Provides an invisible finish to appear non-cakey, nor exaggerate skin texture – winning!
Bronzer
Revolution Beauty: Tasty Coffee Bronzer
Instead of your regular latte, let this tasty bronzer spring you into action with a morning caffeine buzz – FYI, please do not attempt to consume this, I’m sure it would not end well. In a coffee style compact, this bronzer will wake-up your skin for you to seize the day ahead!
Blush
Collection: Speedy Blush Stick
A piece of makeup kit to have when you are always on the go. This speedy blush is great to whip out your bag and add those last-minute touches. Plus, no make-up brush needed here. Simply dab a little bit of the product on your cheeks and blend in with your fingers – easy!
Highlighter
HighlighterRevolution Beauty: Reloaded Highlighter
Glow from the outside and within with this highlighter, guaranteed to blind all mankind – not kidding. With an ultra-fine, soft formula, this product will glide onto your skin effortlessly to make those cheekbones POP.
Brows
Collection: IncrediBROW Eyebrow Kit
Brow game: ‘Incredi’. This makeup kit includes all the bits you need to create those beautiful brows, including three different powder shades and a brow gel – all there ready for you to go!
Single Eyeshadow
MUA: Essential Eyeshadow
I mean, £1.50? Absolute steal! Available in a range of matte and shimmer finishes, MUA essential eyeshadows are a great option to go for when you have a few spare pennies. Also, the marvellous thing about these is that they can be used as contour or brow powders – smart thinking!
Eyeshadow Palettes
Barry M: Bare it All Eyeshadow Palette
This slick eyeshadow palette is ideal for the day or night look. With 9 matte and shimmer shades to choose from suiting all skin tones, the eyeshadow possibilities are endless. A neutral, soft look can be easily crafted, yet a more sultry, smoky one too.
Revolution Beauty: Forever Flawless ‘Decadent’ Eyeshadow Palette
Maybe you are looking for more of a selection? Revolution’s Forever Flawless ‘Decadent’ Eyeshadow Palette is a beautiful palette containing 18 warm toned shades. Encapsulated in a rose gold marble case, this palette is the perfect go-to when wanting to create those bronzed, dreamy eyes.
The ‘Forever Flawless’ range from Revolution also provides many other palettes – ‘Ice Blue’, ‘Bird of Paradise’ and ‘Allure’ are just some of the palettes within the collection, all offering various themes and eyeshadow shades.
Eyeliners
Collection: Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner
Create the sharpest and most fierce flicks with this felt tip liner from Collection. At only £2.99, you can put together something bold, graphic and unforgettable at a student friendly price – yay! This liner is easy to use if you are hesitant trying out the classic cat eye – it can be stressful. Being a felt tip style, the liner allows control and ease when applying the product to provide a clean finish.
Lottie London: AM-PM Retractable Eyeliner
This retractable eyeliner can really complete a look – no faffing with pencil sharpeners here! Either tight lining the upper lash line to define the eyes, or the bottom waterline for a more intense look, this liner has many perks with pigmented colour pay-off.
Mascara
Revolution Beauty: Chocolate Dipped Mascara
Did you know melted chocolate is a wonderful formula for mascaras? Just kidding! We all know that wouldn’t work the best, anyhow… This ‘Chocolate Dipped’ mascara is a great option if you are on a budget and wanting your lashes to have impact, definition and smell a bit like chocolate – yum. And best of all, it is only a fiver!
Lipstick
MUA: Satin Lipstick
A creamy, silky formulated lipstick you can glide on in a flash and head straight out the door. Question is, are you a subtle nude, bold or bright lip shade lover? With an excellent range of shades to choose from, MUA’s Satin Lipstick is there to suit every occasion.
Setting Spray
e.l.f Makeup: Mist & Set Clear Spray
A setting spray to set that face and seal everything in. This product will keep your make-up looking fresh no matter what you’re faced with – ha! Get it? – and also bring some life back in to your skin after layering powders.
Freckle Pen
Lottie London: Faux Freckle Pen
An addition to add to your makeup kit if you are lover of freckles. Follow the makeup trend with this product to provide natural and realistic freckles by dotting and blending – super cute and fresh!
Makeup Kit Brands Mentioned
Cruelty Free & Vegan:
- Barry M
- Elf Makeup
Cruelty Free & Partially Vegan:
- The Ordinary
- Revolution Beauty
- Collection Cosmetics
- Lottie London
(Please note that all specific makeup kit products mentioned in this article are vegan & cruelty free)
